Extreme Heat and Drought Slash European Crop Yields

Extreme heat, drought, and wildfires are devastating agricultural production across Europe, prompting warnings of significant food slumps and rising consumer prices. The European Union has lowered harvest forecasts for potatoes, soya beans, grain maize, and sunflowers. In Spain, the ministry of agriculture predicts the 2026-27 cereal crop will drop to 18.5 million tonnes, down from 24 million tonnes the previous year.

Fruit and vegetable sectors face severe disruptions. Olive oil prices are expected to surge after fires damaged groves in Greece, Italy, and Portugal. In France, the association Légumes de France reported the loss of thousands of tonnes of produce, including carrots and onions, while grape yields in Champagne are projected to be 10% smaller than last year.

Agricultural experts note that repeated heatwaves have accelerated the ripening of winter crops, potentially reducing grain size and overall quality. However, some resilience remains in Italy and Romania, and Turkey reported record-high winter crop yields following a wet spring.